(a) the steps being taken by the Government to tackle imbalanced population growth along with the details thereof;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to address the issue of huge gap in population growth of various communities along with the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to create a special monitoring team to monitor the rapid increase in the population ratio, especially in border areas and to prevent infiltration; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
(a) & (b) In an effort to tackle imbalanced population growth, and to address the issue of gap in the same, the Government provides contraceptive information, services and commodities to all communities universally free of cost. Moreover, the Government is implementing various schemes, to ensure access and last mile availability of Family Planning services few of which are mentioned below:
1. Mission Parivar Vikas (MPV) is implemented in 13 states for substantially increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services. These states are seven high focus states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam) and six North-Eastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram).
The MPV scheme focuses on:
• improving access to contraceptives
• promotional schemes
• ensuring commodity security
• capacity building of personnel
• intensive monitoring
2. Expanded Contraceptive Choices: The current contraceptive basket comprising Condoms, Combined oral contraceptive pills, Emergency contraceptive pills, Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) and Sterilization has been expanded with inclusion of new contraceptives viz. Injectable contraceptive (under Antara programme) and Centchroman (Chhaya).
3. Compensation scheme for sterilization acceptors which provides compensation for loss of wages to the beneficiary.
4. Post-partum Intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) services are provided post delivery.
5. Scheme for Home Delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at doorstep of beneficiaries has been taken up.
6. Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS): A dedicated software has been launched to ensure smooth forecasting, procurement and distribution of family planning commodities across all the levels of health facilities.
(c) & (d) The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration which inter-alia includes deployment of Border Guarding Forces along the International Borders, erection of border fencing and floodlighting, effective domination of borders by patrolling, laying Nakas, manning observation posts along the borders, vulnerability mapping of Border Out Posts (BOPs), deployment of special surveillance equipment and vehicles like Hand Held Thermal Imager (HHTI), Night Vision Device (NVD), Twin telescope, UAVs, Long Range Reconnaissance and Observation System (LORROS), Battle Field Surveillance Radar (BFSR), Integrated surveillance technology equipped with CCTV/PTZ Cameras, IR sensors and Infrared alarm with command and control system, relentless anti-infiltration operations, strengthening of intelligence network, anti-tunelling exercise in vulnerable areas and deployment of water crafts/ boats, floating BOPs and technological solutions in non-feasible border areas like riverine gaps etc.